Committee Scope and Responsibilities:

LWV Kent Vision Statement for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion: 

The League of Women Voters of Kent is committed to the core values of diversity, equity and inclusion. We will continue to grow a diverse organization of shared power that considers and values all perspectives expressed when making decisions. We are creating a community of respect, celebration, and empowerment which enables all people to influence government through active participation in the political process.

VALUES: 
Opportunity to contribute:  We commit to building and maintaining a diverse and inclusive environment that creates opportunities for meaningful participation from members and the community. 

Teamwork: We commit to collaborative, diverse teams that value and actively include all input and ideas which will enrich the work of the organization and ensure its longevity.

Making a difference:  We believe the best way to make a positive difference in the community is by having a diverse membership. 

Leadership: We commit to practicing leadership and embracing the development of leaders grounded in the core values of diversity, equity, and inclusion. 

The  combined Diversity Committees (Values Alignment Committee and Community Engagement Committee) will provide intentionality to the work of recruiting to grow our league with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Throughout the months of July and August – we will encourage League members to join diversity committee members as we plan a variety of events and outreach to diversify the Kent League.  

We are seeking men and women of all ages above 18, people of color and/or nationalities, those who may have skills and expertise to share, and a variety of other differences; all of whom are willing to become a voice that advocates for governmental change when necessary. We are looking for people who are different from ourselves, as noted below and encourage them to join us, or better yet, bring a guest, different from yourself, to an event.  At such event, we will find opportunity to talk about the league and invite them to become members.  Our goal for current LWV-K members in diversifying our membership will be the following:  Each one, Bring one.  Please sign up to support this initiative.    

Diversity and inclusion efforts are identified by many differences.  The following are a few traits that will guide us in diversifying LWV-K Membership:            

1.  Ensuring the broadest possible representation of individuals, experiences and perspectives.

2.  Recognizing the full range of human differences and similarities.

3.  The process of leveraging the power of those differences and similarities.

4.  Confrontation of historical exclusions based on race, gender, sexual orientation and economic status from the past and present.

The Community Inclusion and Community Engagement Subcommittee of the LWV Kent Diversity program works on reaching out to community by meeting residents where they are and also inviting them in to the League.

The Values Alignment Subcommittee of the LWV Kent Diversity program looks at our League tools, events and processes, such as the website, candidate forums and membership, to see if there are barriers to achieving a more diverse membership and a voice in the community in support of diversity.

Volunteer opportunities available include helping with the next review, which will be of the website and helping to create a master list of LWV Kent publications, programs and processes to review and provide input for decreasing barriers.